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EXCAVATOR MACHINES Filed June 20, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mww 20/ 5 i? n II-gun i INVENTOR @er/'e75armau ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,391,810 EXCAVATOR MACHINES Robert G. LeTourneau, P.O. Box 2307, Longview, Tex. 75601 Filed June 20, 1966, Ser. No. 558,640 Claims. (Cl. 214-132) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Excavator machines may be made up of a pair of horizontally spaced pedestal structures which are connected together by a beam structure. Each pedestal mounts a powered boom carrying at its outer end an earth digging and load carrying device. The machine can be walked along its excavating route by engaging a load carrying device with the earth so as to lift one pedestal structure and then rotating the boom to move the pedestal structure. In some embodiments a plurality of load carrying devices may be carried on a single pedestal structure. A pedestal structure, in another embodiment, may pivotally mount a unitary single boom structure at its midlength region for free movement in a vertical plane, with earth digging and holding means carried at each end of the boom structure.

My invention relates to earthworking machines for excavating earth and particularly to excavating machines of the boom supported bucket type.

The general object of my invention is to provide improved earthworking excavators of the boom supported bucket type.

Another object of my invention is to provide earthworking excavators of the boom supported bucket type with improved means for moving the machine along a selected work route.

Another object of my invention is to provide earthworking excavators of the boom supported bucket type with boom apparatus having improved operational characteristics.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description taken in accordance with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of excavator apparatus constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational View of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary and sectional view of the apparatus used to support the arms or booms of the FIG. 1 machine;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of an alternate form of my invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the machine of FIG. 5 with the booms removed;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view which shows an arm or boom support member, power means for rotating the arm support member about a vertical axis, portions of one of the booms, and power means for rotating the boom about a horizontal axis;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective of earth digging and holding means which are attached to the outer extremity of each boom;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing upper portions of the earth digging and holding means of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic elevational view of an earth- 3,391,810 Patented July 9, 1968 working excavator in accordance with a further aspect of my invention.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, the number 11 designates a rigid and elongated body member that connects upper regions of a pair of rigid legs 13, 15. The body member and legs are preferably tubular but may have any suitable geometric form. A pair of braces 17 rigidly interconnect the body member 11 with legs 13, 15 to increase the rigidity and strength of the machine. Each leg has a foot 19, 21, each of which includes a pair of pods 23, 25 (see FIG. 2) connected by a runner 27 which is transversely ali ned with respect to a lower portion of legs 13, 15 and which extends perpendicularly with respect to body member 11. Braces 29 add rigidity to the feet.

At the approximate midsection of each leg 13, 15 is an arm support structure 31, which has a socket arrangement 33 (see FIG. 4) that surrounds a spherical section 35 secured to each leg. An upper region of spherical section 35 is joined to the associated leg in this instance by a flange connection 37, and its lower region is connected with the leg by suitable means, such as welding 39. The spherical member 35 and the socket arrangement 33 have mating surfaces, with an upper region of the socket arrangement 33 having an aperture 40 that is smaller in diameter than the largest diameter of the spherical member 35. Thus, arm support structure 31 is supported, at least partially, by the cooperative relationship between ball member 33 and socket arrangement 35. The socket arrangement preferably has a lower outwardly extending and downwardly facing shoulder 43 that opposes a mating shoulder 45 formed on legs 13, 15. Ball bearing raceways 47 and ball bearings 49 are inserted between the opposing shoulders 43, 45 to support forces exerted on the arm support member 31 and to reduce friction during rotation.

The arm support structure 31 includes a lower flange 51 that has a plurality of apertures through which are inserted the shanks of inboard and outboard rollers 53, 55. Inboard rollers 53 engage the outer cylindrical surface of the leg while outboard rollers 55 engage the cylindrical periphery of a lateral support flange 57. The periphery of lateral support flange 57 has gear teeth 59 formed thereon, and these gear teeth are engaged by a pinion 61 which is mounted on a shaft 63 that extends from arm support structure 31.

An electric motor gear unit 67 drives a reduction gear 69 and rotates the shaft 63 of pinion 61. An electric generator is connected with a suitable electric circuit (not shown), which further connects the gear motor 67 with a console in an operators control station 71 that preferably depends from the body member 11, as may be seen in FIG. 1.

A pair of arms or boom structures 73 are supported on the arm support structure 31 of each leg 13, 15 by means of bearing members 77. Pivotally connected to an upper portion of each arm support member 31 are a pair of racks 79 that engage pinions 81 driven by electric gear motor units 83. Suitable electric circuits (not shown) connect the electric gear motors with a source of electrical power (not shown) and with the console of the operators control station 71. By rotating the pinion 81 in the clockwise or counterclockwise directions, the boom structure 73 may be forcefully moved in upward and downward directions.

Secured to the free end portion 85 of each boom structure 73 is a suitable, electrically operated earth digging and holding means 86. Suitable earth digging and holding means 86 are disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 429,548, filed Feb. 1, 1965.

In operation, the electric motor 67 of each arm support structure 31 may :be energized by closing an electric circuit from the console located in the operators control station 71. Pinions 61 may be selectively rotated in both the counterclockwise and clockwise directions, and thus the arm support structures 31 and boom structures 73 may be rotated in either the clockwise or the counterclockwise direction. To remove earth from the floor of the channel shown in FIG. 1, one of the earth digging and holding means 86 is opened and the pinion 81 that engages the rack 79 is rotated so that the pinion tends to move toward the outer extremity of the rack. This causes the associated arm to move downward, and ultimately the earth digging and holding means is urged forcefully into the floor of the channel. Then the earth digging and holding means is closed so that earth is retained therein. The direction of pinion 81 is then reversed so that it tries to move rearward or toward the inner region of the associated rack. This causes the arm to move upward and away from the floor of the channel.

When the earth digging and holding means 86 is high enough to clear the bank of the channel, pinion 61 of arm support structure 31 is rotated until the arm is swung to the earth dispensing position. The earth digging and holding means 86 may now be operated in a manner to dispense earth, as is described in my above mentioned copending application.

Eventually, it becomes necessary to move the machine farther down the channel so that additional earth may be removed therefrom. This is accomplished by utilizing the mechanisms previously described that have the additional function of digging earth from the channel. As shown in FIG. 1, one boom structure 73 is lowered until its earth digging and holding means 86 engages the floor of the channel. If the pinion 81 is further rotated such that the pinion tends to move toward the free end of the rack 77, the earth digging and holding means will be urged forcefully into the ground. If enough force is applied in this manner, the foot 19 can be moved from the floor of the channel. With the foot in an elevated position, the pinion 61 is rotated, and the resulting relative movement between the arm support structure 31 and the leg 13 causes the leg to rotate about the pivot point established by leg 15. Leg 15 may be walked down the channel in a similar manner.

Referring now to the alternate form of my invention shown in FIGS. through 9 of the drawings, the numeral 101 designates a rigid and elongated body member, which is connected at its extremities to a pair of legs 103, 105. The legs have feet 109, 111, each of which has a pair of pods 113, 115 secured to a nmner 117 that is transversely connected with the body member 101 by clamping means 119. Braces 120 add rigidity to the legs, each of which has an arm or boom support structure 121 disposed at its upper region.

Each arm support structure 121 includes a rotatable platform 123, the purpose of which will be explained later. Mounted on each support arm member 121 is a sector gear 125 the central plane of which is vertical and passes through the longitudinal axis of said support arm memher 121. Disposed on the central axis of each sector gear 125 equidistant from said sector gear central plane are two oppositely facing ball arrangements 127 (see FIG. 6).

Sector gear 125 is part of the means associated with each arm or boom for moving same about a horizontal axis in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The details of means for effecting this movement will be explained later.

The arm suport structure 121 associated with each leg 103, 105 is rotatable about the vertically disposed longitudinal axis of the leg. It may be seen with reference to FIG. 7 that the arm support structure 121 is preferably conical, having a socket arrangement 135 that engages a spherical region 133 formed on the upper extremity of the associated leg. An electric gear motor unit 136 is supported on the arm support member 121 and drives a pinion 137, which engages and selectively rotates a reduction gear 139. The reduction gear 139 and a pinion 141 are secured to a shaft 143, and the pinion 141 engages a bull gear 145 that is secured to the leg. By rotating the pinion 137 associated with electric gear motor 136 in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the arm support structure 121 may be rotated about a vertical axis. Pivotally mounted at its mid-length region on each said arm support structure 123, by means of sockets cooperating with the balls 127, is an arm or boom structure 131.

To vary the angular orientation of boom structure 131 with respect to horizontal, power means 147 are provided (see especially FIG. 7). The illustrated power means comprises an electric gear motor unit 149 having a pinion 151 that engages a reduction gear 153. Another pinion 155 is connected with the reduction gear 153 by means of a splined shaft 157. A third pinion 159 may also be seen in FIG. 7, but this pinion is driven by an electric gear motor unit (not shown) that is on the opposite side of the support structure 161. The support structure 161 for the power means 147 is secured by suitable means, such as welding, to the associated boom 131.

Referring again to FIG. 5, each end of each boom has a pair of oppositely facing and coaxially aligned socket arrangements 165 (see FIG. 5) that engage ball arrangements 167 (see FIG. 8) formed on a head portion 169 of a respective earth digging and holding means 163. The head portion 169 preferably has four laterally protruding ears 171 to which are pivotally secured connecting rods 175 by means of pins 173. The lower end of each connecting rod 175 is pivotally connected by a respective pin 177 to a rib 179 on one section of an orange peel type bucket 181.

To open or close theorange peel sections 181 of the bucket a length of rack 183 is connected to the bucket adjacent the upper regions 185 of each orange peel section. Relative vertical movement of the length of rack 183 with respect to the connecting rods 175 forcefully opens or closes the orange peel sections 181 of bucket. Hence, the earth digging and holding means 163 are opened and closed in the same general manner as are those described in my previously mentioned copending application.

To move the length of rack 183 with'respect to the connecting rods 175, an electric gear motor 187 drives a pinion (not shown) that rotates one or more additional reduction gears and ultimately turns another pinion 189 (see FIG. 9). The length of rack 183 is provided with a smooth rearward surface that is engaged by oneor more back-up rollers 191, which are rotatably secured to the housing 193 that supports the electric gear motor 187 and related apparatus.

To provide electrical energy for the various electrical components, an internal combustion engine 195 is rigidly secured to each arm support structure 121 and rotates the shaft of a generator 197. Electrical circuits (not shown) connect the generator 197 with the previously described electric gear motors and an operators control station 199, which has a console therein, is disposed in a suitable location on the excavator, as is shown in FIG. 5.

In operation of the excavator of FIGS. 5 through 9, the electric gear motor 136 of each arm support structure 121 may be energized by closing an electrical circuit from the console in the operators control station 199. The pinion 137 may be rotated in the counterclockwise or clockwise directions, and thus the arm support structure 121 may be selectively rotated about a vertical axis. To remove earth from the floor of the channel shown in FIG. 5, one of the earth digging and holding means 163 is opened by operating the pinion 189 associated with the respective rack 183. The pinions 155 and 159 (see FIG. 7) are rotated so that the end of the arm or boom structure 131 which supports the now opened earth digging and holding means is urged forcefully into the floor of the channel. Then the earth digging and holding means is closed by the operation of the electric gear motor 187 so the earth is retained therein. Pinions 155 and 159 are now rotated in the opposite directions from that mentioned above so that the end of the arm or boom structure 131 is raised. When the earth digging and holding means is high enough to clear the 'bank of the channel, pinion 137 associated with arm support structure 121 is rotated to swing the earth digging and holding means over the bank into an earth dispensing position. The earth digging and holding means 163 is then operated in a manner to open the orange peel sections 181 to dispense the earth.

To move the excavator along the channel, one of the earth digging and holding means 163 is lowered as shown in FIG. 5 until it forcefully engages the floor of the channel. If the pinions 155, 159 are further rotated, the earth digging and holding means 163 tends to move farther into the ground, eventually raising foot 117 from the floor of the channel. With the foot in this elevated position, the pinion 137 associated with the arm support structure 121 is rotated, and the resulting relative movement between the arm support structure 121 and leg 105 causes the leg to rotate about the pivot point established by the other leg 109. Leg 109 may be walked down the channel in a similar manner.

An important feature in accordance with one aspect of my invention resides in the provision of the excavator boom and earth digging and holding means counterbalance arrangement shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 9 and also in FIG. 10. The apparatus of FIG. 10 may be substantially identical as to the boom structure 131, the arm support structure 12.1, the buckets 181, power means, drive means, and other components, to that of either half of the excavator of FIGS. 5 through 9, with the exception that the leg 103, 105 is replaced by a pedestal 201 mounted on a support base such as a vehicle 203. The counterbalance arrangement of the boom structure 131 and buckets 181 as shown by FIGS. 5 and 10 has the advantage that it is only necessary to provide power for lifting the load in the 'bucket. Since the weight of the boom and bucket structure is considerable, to avoid lifting this weight results in a significant saving of power.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided an invention having significant advantages. The arrangement of the arms or boom structures and legs of the machine is such that the same apparatus used to effect the earth digging and dispensing functions may be used to propel the machine to new locations in an etfective manner. By eliminating the necessity for having separate means for propelling the machine and for effecting the earth digging and dispensing, machine weight and initial cost are reduced. One operator can effectively manipulate the multiple earth digging and holding means. The apparatus arrangements of my invention provide good excavator stability in addition to providing an improved manner of walking the excavator. The excavators of FIGS. 5 through 10 have the additional advantage of improved operational and economic characteristics due to the fact that each boom structure and its associated earth digging and holding means are arranged in counterbalance fashion, so that work energy or power need be expended only to lift the weight of earth payload.

While I have shown my invention in only one form, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. An excavator apparatus comprising:

(a) two spaced apart legs;

(b) a body member rigidly connecting upper regions of said legs;

(c) at least one boom structure mounted on each leg for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said leg and about an axis transverse with respect to said (d) earth digging and holding means carried by each boom structure; and

(e) power means for forcefully and independently moving said boom structures about their respective axes of rotation.

2. The excavator apparatus as defined by claim 1, but wherein the body member rigidly connects lower regions of said legs.

3. An excavator apparatus comprising:

(a) two spaced apart vertically disposed legs rigidly interconnected at lower regions thereof;

(b) a boom structure mounted at its mid-length region on each leg for rotation about both horizontal and vertical axes;

(c) earth digging and holding means carried by each end of each boom structure, with the weight of the earth digging and holding means and each boom structure arranged in counterbalance fashion; and

(d) power means for forcefully and independently moving said boom structures about their respective horizontal and vertical axes.

4. An excavator apparatus comprising:

(a) two spaced apart vertically disposed rigidly interconnected legs;

(b) at least one boom structure mounted on each leg for rotation about both horizontal and vertical axes;

(c) earth digging and holding means carried by each boom structure; and

((1) power means for forcefully and independently moving said boom structures about their respective horizontal and vertical axes.

5. An excavator apparatus comprising:

(a) a pedestal structure;

(b) a unitary single boom structure mounted at its midlength region on said pedestal structure for rotation about both horizontal and vertical axes;

(c) earth digging and holding means carried by each end of said boom structure, with the weight of the earth digging and holding means and said boom structure arranged in counterbalance fashion; and

((1) power means for forcefully and independently moving said boom structure about said respective vertical and horizontal axes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,170,654 2/1916 Martin 214-132 X 2,228,447 1/ 1941 Eveler 2l4-147 X 3,132,756 5/1964 Thompson 214132 '3,23=1,1 14 1/1966 LeTourneau 214--132 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

